#fcsu

With new information from Faith, the police were able to narrow down LeRoyce's whereabouts. He seemed to be sticking close to Windenburg for some reason. She noted that he was always well fed and clean while they all wasted away. "We'll find him soon." One of the officers told her. Something in his voice made her believe him.

The remaining girls were still languishing in the truck. Lily-Anne in particular, seemed close to the breaking point. Wasn't the entire point of an FCSU girl's life? To get married? She understood why the other girls were hesitant, they were his half-sisters after all. But Lily-Anne was only his half-niece. Such a match wasn't unheard of in FCSU culture.

One night, when he opened the door to toss in their daily meal of stale, cold, hot dogs, she stood up. "I'll do it. I will be your bride." She said stoically. The other girls were shocked. LeRoyce looked thrilled. He recited the marriage passage then and there, sealing thirteen-year old Lily-Anne to himself for all time and eternity.

He took her to the front of the truck. He got the two of them a hotel room so she could clean up and they could get to know each other. Wow, I could get used to this! She thought as she scrubbed the dirt from her skin and combed the mats from her hair. That night, they went out to a fancy dinner to celebrate. It was the first time the young bride had been to a restaurant in her life.

Lily-Anne settled into married life. She and LeRoyce stayed on the move. She found out he was working as a long-haul trucker to make ends meet. Sometimes they parked the truck hidden in the woods, sometimes they stayed overnight in shopping mall parking lots but the best nights were the nights in hotels. Hot food, warm showers, television! She took over the task of feeding the other girls. She tried to make their soggy leftovers look appetizing. She started wondering why the others were holding out and making everything so difficult.  

“You know,” she said softly as she brought them dinner one night, “it’s not really all that bad, being married. You get warm food, soap. You get to see the land while he drives. It’s beautiful and blessed.” Hope looked dubious. “Yes but what about spending the night with him?” “It’s not much worse than when he watches you shower.” She said shrugging. After Faith’s episode, LeRoyce began letting his prisoners shower once weekly but only in secluded lakes and ponds and only while “supervised.”

The other girls cringed. They HATED being watched. They hated LeRoyce. Sometimes they even hated their mothers for not coming back for them, they felt like they could only depend on each other, even though they weren’t allowed to speak in the truck anymore. Just the proximity of the others gave a bit of comfort and that was just enough to keep them from breaking. The general consensus was that Lily-Anne was in denial and lying to herself to cope with her reality, a time-honoured FCSU tradition for wives. They’d seen with their mothers act the same way.

The four remaining sisters picked at their food before it went totally bad. They were scared for Lily-Anne but secretly relieved. Hopefully his new wife would keep him busy for a while and he'd leave them alone. They also whispered about Faith. She'd developed a huge sore on her leg and eventually a fever. She'd begun sleeping all day, at which point LeRoyce had abandoned her at a hospital. Where was she now? Was she even alive?

Faith was alive, of course, and happened to be getting a makeover from her cousin Anna at that very moment. Farrah had allowed her daughter to buy townie clothes on the condition that they were modest enough to meet her standards. Makeup was immodest and therefore, not allowed. But Farrah was at a church function that night and AJ was working downstairs so it seemed like the perfect time for Anna to teach her cousin how to do the perfect cat-eye. 

Faith knew her mother was planning to homeschool her daughters once they were all reunited so she had to live vicariously through Anna for now. She wanted nothing more than a normal life, going to a real school, being a cheerleader, maybe even having a boyfriend-or two. It seemed like Anna had it all and she was a couple years younger than her! The two had made a pact to attend university together. All Faith had to do was wait and study. 

“Becca-Dawn,” drawled Vangie one morning over breakfast “I was thinking. Why don’t we go shopping today? And maybe a haircut?” Taken aback Becca stammered out a response. This was a big step for Evangeline. The two headed into town, jogging along the path. Becca-Dawn didn’t own a car and, as a trainer, never missed an opportunity to exercise. 

In the store Vangie struggled to put together outfits. It seemed like all the shirts were croptops, why don’t townies want to cover their stomachs? She decided that she wanted to keep pretty modest, but she was excited to try pants! Becca tried to help but a lot of her choices were too masculine for Evangeline’s tastes. In the end they had to call Penny and have her give advice over facetime.  Penny was dead on with her outfit choices. 

The next stop was the hair stylist. Vangie had cut bangs into her hair once as a child after teasing from Nina and Dina, but she’d never had a proper haircut. Her thick, dark brown hair hung far down her back when it wasn’t piled on her head and smothered in hairspray. Either way, it felt heavy on her neck and skull, causing headaches. The stylist was kind, going slow and checking with her client as he trimmed the length. Finally Vangie ended up with a cute style that ended just below her shoulders. She starting experimenting with different braids and learned to craft voluminous ponytails. 

Vangie loved all the outfits she bought! She modeled all her different looks for Becca-Dawn later that day. Each ensemble made Vangie feel beautiful and confident, and they were a mix of her favourite colours! It had been so long since there was some colour in her life.

Across town Farrah was grappling with similar thoughts. She had accepted she’d have to integrate with townie life but wanted to maintain the modesty of her faith, both old and new. She’d read all the books Jonah had given her and was now trying to make her way through the King James version of the Bible. She’d also been talking to Jonah almost every night. It sounded like he missed her. They decided to enter a long-distance courtship arrangement. This was good for Farrah, who still had to wrap her head around the concept of choosing a partner for herself.

They’d agreed that Farrah would stay with her sister until her kids were safely in her custody and emotionally stable. Then they would all move to Henford and hopefully the courtship would continue in person. AJ was surprised her sister was moving on so fast but offered support. Farrah was an adult after all, and AJ’s job was to love her family even if didn’t understand some of her sister’s choices-in love or fashion.

Likewise, Farrah didn’t understand the fashion in AJ’s family. Anna had finally aged up and was very much a teenager. She wore short, tight skirts, makeup and shirts that were down-right sluttish! She couldn’t understand why her mother would let her out of the house like that. That being said, sometimes the outfits worn by AJ raised her eyebrows too. AJ, for her part, didn’t much care what her children wore as long as they were doing well in school and kind to each other. She was grateful Farrah hadn’t been staying with them when Autumn lived there, she would have scheduled an exorcism.

Farrah was reading at the apartment when she got a phone call from a police officer, a sickly, malnourished and filthy girl had been left at a hospital in Windenburg who matched the description of one of her daughters. AJ offered to go with, but Farrah wanted to go alone to see her. She thought it'd be easier that way. She borrowed AJ's car to make the journey to Windenburg.

She was led to a small room in the hospital basement where Faith was lying on a bed. Tears welled in Farrah's eyes to see her daughter hooked up to a monitor and an iv. She looked so fragile. "Is she going to be okay?" She asked the nurse. "She's going to be fine. She's just getting some antibiotics for her infection and fluids because she's dehydrated. I'll leave you two alone for a while. Ring the buzzer if you need me." Answered the nurse before bustling down the hall.

Faith awoke about half an hour later. "Mama," She asked, rubbing her eyes, "Is it really you?" "Yes!" Wept Farrah, hugging her daughter. "You're safe now." As she regained her strength, she updated her mother and the detective on the others. "LeRoyce has been driving us all around in a filthy truck for months now. No one will agree to marry him, so he's trying to starve us into submission. I got a cut on my leg, and it got infected from all the filth. He thought I was going to die, so he dumped me here." She told them. Once her statement was taken and she recovered enough to travel, Farrah drove Faith back to Brindleton Bay.

Thankfully Alex had graduated and moved out meaning there was enough room for Faith to stay in the house as well. She set herself up in his old room while Alex pursued his biology degree from Foxbury Institute along with his cousins Ryder and Thomas. The three were planning to live in the dorms together but ended up rushing a rather loud and obnoxious fraternity and moving into the house, much to Teresa and AJ’s chagrin. 

Evangeline was stressed. Though she'd always lived in large households, deep down she was a loner. There were very few people she felt truly comfortable with and none of them were here. She thought of where to go next. She could go back to her father, but that would likely mean remarriage and being on that damn show. She was done being a wife, she just wanted to be left alone.

As they were driving through town one day AJ pointed out a small house. "That's Becca-Dawn's place. She lives out here too." Vangie was shocked. "What?" She hadn't seen her sisterwife since the raid. Her stomach knotted just thinking about it. Even then Vangie had been doubting her faith. She did what she needed to keep herself and her girls safe, or at least tried to. She remembered the hurt in Becca-Dawn's eyes when they'd last spoke. Vangie was quiet for the rest of the day.

That evening she decided to go for a jog, despite the fact that a storm had kicked up. She started off running towards the shoreline. She loved living near the beach, the smell of salt in the air. She really did like Brindleton Bay with it's white picket fences, coastal weather and mountains in the east. "I could stay here," she thought. "Raise my girls, go to the beach on weekends, maybe adopt a dog or cat." She envisioned herself and her daughters in a small home, content and thriving.

But how was she going to afford a house big enough for three? She knew she'd have to get a job eventually, but what skills did she have? She'd quit school after being married. She was a decent cook but how many places were looking for someone who pretty much only made salads for the last decade. Maybe if she got her high school diploma she could do some sort of training? Lost in her thoughts she ran through the rain past the beach, up a hill, to a familiar cabin. Maybe this is where she'd wanted to go the whole time.

Becca-Dawn was startled by a knock on her door. She was just getting ready for bed. Shushing Peanut, who was barking her face off, she opened the door to find Evangeline Culton. "May I come in?" She asked quietly. She was soaked to the skin and thinner than ever. Becca worried about the nutrition the cult members were getting. What was she doing here? Becca stepped aside to let her in. "It's you." Is all she could manage to say. "Here, you can come in, you should dry off before you get ill. The bathroom is on the right."

Evangeline looked around. The home was inviting and decorated with bright colours and art. It was so different from an FCSU home. Once she'd cleaned up a bit the two sat on a small, whicker couch to catch up. She told Becca-Dawn how LeRoyce had taken over, how he was secretly Royce's son and how he'd abducted his half-sisters to marry. Becca's eyes grew wide with fear. Those girls were her nieces and stepdaughters. "He had us living in the back of a truck. No heat and now it's Winter!" I'm so scared for them Becca." She wept.

Becca-Dawn listened as she told her how she'd been kicked out of the truck and abandoned on the roadside. She explained how AJ had gotten the police involved and had missing persons reports filed for the girls. "Wells that's good, at least." Becca said quietly "Don't worry, you'll get them back. Out here mothers, not cult leaders, have rights. He'll go to jail for this, just like his daddy." "Then who'll lead the church?" Vangie asked. Becca-Dawn looked surprised. "You are actually out, right? Like you're not a part of the church anymore. That means you don't have to worry about a Priesthood Headship. Once you get those girls you're free."

"I've been thinking about that." Vangie admitted. Starting over here, getting the kids into school, finding a job. I don't think I can go back to back, even to my father's or Emma's groups. I don't think I can make myself believe in Polygamy or Prophet's again, not after everything that's happened." "That's good!" Becca cheered, "That's a good start. You don't have to figure out the answers tonight. It's late, you should be sleeping. You can sleep here tonight if you want." Vangie nodded and Becca-Dawn gave her a hug. "It's going to be okay. You will be okay."

Becca-Dawn brought Vangie breakfast in bed the next morning. It was FCSU-style fruit salad but with a tangy syrup/topping added. It was delicious. "Hey, I let my sister know you're here." She said. Evangeline smiled. She was struck by just how calm and peaceful everything felt. Gone was the heavy fear and anxiety that hung over everyone's head in the FCSU. Gone was the chaos and impermanence of Allie-Jayne's house. She felt like they were back in the tiny San Myshuno apartment and no time had passed.

"I'm going into town to buy some stuff, wanna come?" Becca asked enthusiastically. "I was thinking I could put some drywall up and block off the other side of the loft to make another bedroom. For you, if you'd like..You don't have to make a decision now, though. We have all the time in the world." Evangeline cut off her friend's rambling. "Yes, I would love to be your roommate." She smiled. A genuine smile, for the first time since she'd been kicked out of the church.

There was finally peace and quiet in Allie-Jayne’s apartment. Autumn’s departure meant that at long last each remaining child had their own room and not a moment too soon as pre-teen Anna needed her own space and was growing resentful of little sister Avery. The boys were excelling at school and football and were evening taking on weekend shifts in the café to help their mother out. 

AJ had begun a small garden on the roof of her building and it was quickly becoming her happy place. Warm and sunny in the summer and insulated and cozy in the rainy winter, the rooftop greenspace was the perfect place to relax with a cup of tea or practice yoga. It reminded AJ of her first garden out in the Prospect. It seemed like a million years ago she was a young wife desperately trying to find something to ground her.

She had seen the season finale of Higher Prospects and watched her daughter wed Royce's son in some weird mish-mash of an FCSU wedding and a townie one. She wondered how Abby was coping in her new life. She hoped her husband was kind and her sisterwife tolerable. She remembered Nurie as a hyper and excitable child with all of Nina's spark but lacking the conniving edge that made her dangerous. Hopefully she'd matured somewhat.

AJ's phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She didn't recognize the number. Even though she was sure this was a telemarketing call, she answered with a pleasant "Hello?" "Hello um....is this Allie-Jayne's number?" Asked a quiet, almost child-like voice. She almost jumped out of her seat. She'd made sure to keep her phone number the same after her escape in case her family needed to contact her. "Farrah?" She asked, not quite believing it yet.

"Yes, it's me. I no, we got kicked out." She explained her voice shaking with tears. "He took my children, you have to help me!" AJ's stomach dropped. "Who took your children? What's going on?" "LeRoyce" sobbed Farrah "He's taken over everything and he wants to marry my daughters!" "You need to go to the police." Said AJ "I can take you." She knew how terrified her sister must be of the outside world. "Where are you?" Farrah looked around. She read the name of the park off the big sign in the middle. "Okay, that's not too far. Stay there, I'm coming for you. If I leave now I should be there by morning." AJ said before hanging up. She dialed the police in the town the park was located in and Brindleton Bay and relayed all the information Farrah had given her. The there was a dangerous man who’d abducted seven girls for nefarious purposes. She also alerted the cult-specific task force formed after the raid.

AJ was there to greet them early the next morning. Farrah and Vangie were soaked to the skin and filthy but AJ welcomed them all the same. On the ride to Brindleton Bay the girls filled AJ in on the happenings over the few years. The FCSU proper had dwindled to just Royce's remaining family, now led by LeRoyce. His requirements were even worse than his father's and he could tear mothers from their children at will. Farrah felt like everyone's faith had been destroyed and the group was in survival mode rather than true belief.

Once home,  AJ let her newest charges clean up and rest for a bit. She cooked pancakes and made tea for them when they woke up. It had been so long since Farrah drank anything but water. The taste lingered on her palette for a long time. Once they’d slept, cleaned up and eaten it was time to go to the police station. Farrah and Evangeline were nervous being inside the building so the detective took their statements on the sidewalk outside. They desperately explained their situation: their daughters were being held in a truck heading god knows where by their adult half-brother who was either planning to traffic them or harm them himself. He said he’d make it his top priority and keep them updated.

AJ was feeling the walls closing in with two more mouths to feed, once the girls were found there would be twelve again. One morning at breakfast she asked the girls politely “So, what are your plans after this? What’s your plan for after you get your girls back?” Evangeline didn’t know what to say. She could go back to her Father’s house and stay in the church. But that would probably mean getting remarried. Deep down Vangie was a loner. There were only a few people in her life she felt truly comfortable living with, and now they were all gone. She could try to make a life for herself out here. With her two young daughters. Alone. The idea filled her with so much anxiety, her hands started sweating. 

“Well I think I’d like to live in Henford.” Said Farrah, her face flushed. AJ seemed shocked. “Why would you want to live all the way out there?” “I um, I have friends out there.” Farrah mumbled. She couldn’t get the thought of Jonah out of her mind. He was a godly man, so kind, so hardworking. The more she thought of him; the more she realized she liked him-a lot! She was nervous about calling or texting him, she’d been taught for years not to listen to her feelings. Maybe reaching out was a bad idea. 

She nervously broached the subject with AJ while they were watching Higher Prospects one night. “I think I really like this friend of mine, but I’m scared.” AJ was surprised Farrah was moving on so fast but reminded herself that her sister had been living as functionally single since before her youngest daughter was born. “Well,” she said “Is he a good man? I wouldn’t want you to end up with another Royce.” Farrah spent the next while extolling the virtues of her humble farmer neighbor. “He seems like a decent guy. Text him. See what he’s up to.”

One day LeRoyce left with Mother Maggie and returned without her. Farrah was concerned until she got a text from Rachel asking why her son abandoned Maggie on her doorstep. “I have no idea, I think he’s losing it.” Farrah responded. “He lost it long ago.” Her sister responded. “Please stay safe.” Soon after LeRoyce announced that the entire family was going on the run. “Just as the Prophet before me, the townies have been alerted to our presence. We must embark on a great journey.” He announced.

LeRoyce returned to his room once he'd made his announcement. He said he needed to prepare, whatever that meant. Farrah said she needed a walk to clear her head. She called Rachel as soon as she was out of view. "Please tell me what's going on. Where are you?" She asked. Rachel was quiet for a long time. "I got banished. He found out that Royce was his father." Farrah was stunned. "Don't act surprised! You know how Royce can be." Snapped Rachel. "Then the girls are his sisters..." Farrah groaned. She felt sick to her stomach. "I told him because I thought it would deter him." Rachel explained. "Well, it hasn't." Snapped Farrah before hanging up.

She hurried back to the cabin in the dark, desperate to share this information. She went through the motions of cleaning after dinner and getting the kids ready for bed, but she could not bring herself to look LeRoyce in the eye. Once everyone was in the cellar, Farrah sought out Evangeline, she had to let her know. "Really?" She looked like she was going to throw up. "Then this more than LeRoyce destroying our religion. This is just plain wrong." They decided to tell the girls as well. Hope accused them of lying and retreated to her sleeping bag. The others seemed to take the news well. It was clear now that no God would ordain the marriages LeRoyce wanted. He was an agent of Satan.

The following morning LeRoyce turned up in a large, uhaul-style truck. The women were piled inside, only taking what they could carry. Soon they could feel the truck moving. They jostled along for what felt like forever. It was cramped, hot and sweaty. Finally the truck stopped and LeRoyce threw open the door. For a split second his eyes widened seeing the eight girls and women stare knowingly at him. His face contorted into a sneer and he simply tossed a large bowl of salad in at them. "Ooo I don't like that. Do you think he knows we know?" Whispered Farrah. "Who knows?" Responded Vangie.

Eventually the box grew cooler, meaning it was night. The girls huddled in the front of the container as they slept. There were shelves bolted to the front wall that the smaller girls could sleep on, the others brought sleeping bags. Farrah and Evangeline sat closest to the door. They whispered amongst themselves about what to do, how to escape, and how to get the kids out with them. They drifted into an uneasy sleep. Time didn't seem to exist. It was still cool in the box when birds began chirping and movement could be heard from the cab.

LeRoyce yanked open the door and handed Evangeline and Farrah two envelopes wordlessly. Farrah opened hers to find a letter. Farrah Prichard, you have been judged and have fallen short of the glory of our servant Prophet. You are no longer part of this family and will never be again. You must leave immediately, and your soul is condemned to hell for all time and eternity. Royce’s signature was at the bottom of the letter. Farrah wondered if he even read it before signing it. Evangeline's wide-eyed expression showed that her letter said something similar.

She looked up to meet LeRoyce’s gaze, looking for answers, but his only words were “Get Out.” The next few moments were a blur: the children were screaming, LeRoyce forced the two women from the vehicle and sped off down the highway. Farrah and Evangeline looked at each other in shock. Slowly, they became aware that it was pouring rain and they were standing in the middle of the road. Looking around there was nothing but rolling fields. No houses in sight.

Looking in both directions, Farrah started walking. "Where are you going?" Asked Vangie. Farrah just shrugged. She couldn't bring herself to speak. They walked along the highway in silence until their feet ached and they were soaked to the bone. Farrah processed her feelings as she moved. More than anything, she worried about her daughters. She had to get them back and get them to safety. She was relieved that she'd managed to tell them the truth about about LeRoyce before she got ousted. Maybe that was why he suddenly decided to do so. He isolated Rachel as well.

"Look." Evangeline broke the silence. "I think there's buildings over there." Farrah looked up, she could just make out the skyline through the fog. They continued until the desolate highway was swallowed up by a pleasant town with lovely brickwork and ornate streetlights. "Maybe we can find a phone!" Said Farrah "Or a shower." Said Vangie. They walked until they found a small park. Farrah scouted out a payphone near the public restrooms. Who should she even call? The police? Her mother? Farrah looked at the keypad, trying to remember a number she hadn't called in years.

After a brief conversation Farrah turned to face Vangie. "I got the number right! My sister is coming to pick us up." Vangie's eyes grew wide. "Which one?" She hadn't considered seeing old faces again on the outside. She'd been too preoccupied with not freezing to death to really think about it. She was out and free. "Your mother!" Said Farrah, snickering. "What? Allie-Jayne?" "Yes. She says it'll take her till morning to get here, so we should probably find a place to sleep." With no money in an unknown town their options were extremely limited. Eventually they sat on some benches in the park and collapsed with exhaustion. The rain had become a fine mist.

After what seemed like eons Farrah was at last to be reunited with her children. She awoke to find Lee on her doorstep. “We are being called to a center place.” Was all he said. The entire group was once again living together she was told. LeRoyce claimed this gathering had religious significance but the truth was he was running out of money and could no longer afford multiple properties. The group (minus Rachel) were now living in a tiny cabin in the woods of Windenburg. It was far too small for the amount of people living there. 

The first thing Farrah noticed was that Emma's eldest two daughters were missing. Vangie explained that LeRoyce had driven them out to another polygamous enclave to be married in exchange for brides for Lee and Roy, who now lived with their wives in tents behind the house. Emma was heartbroken. She never got to say goodbye to her dear Sincerity and Serenity. In the past Emma had been a fervent believer now she just seemed broken. 

Rachel was still gone and no one knew where she was sequestered. Once LeRoyce started running out of money Rachel simply moved to her own condo not far from Royce’s prison. There she lived quietly “repenting” but mostly just enjoying the peace and quiet. Farrah, who didn’t know this, was alarmed by her absence. Rachel and Maggie had always been the leaders amongst the wives. Now they were both missing in action. Mother Maggie was physically present but she seemed like a different person. She was forgetful and often angry because she didn’t recognize anyone she lived with. The other wives kept her mostly on bed rest but worried that she required more in-depth care.

As soon as she laid eyes on her daughters Farrah rushed to hug them. She couldn’t believe how they’d grown!. Hope and Faith were now teenagers and the oldest unmarried daughters left. They showed Farrah around the cabin, She, Evangeline and all the children would be sleeping in the cold, cramped cellar below the kitchen. LeRoyce, Emma and Maggie occupied the two bedrooms. The tiny cabin was quaint and kind of reminded Farrah of the Swamphouse. Here too the power seemed to fluctuate, leaving them in the dark for days on end sometimes. 

 LeRoyce came and went as he pleased, always muttering to himself. His brothers were wholly obsessed with their new wives and seemed detached from LeRoyce's machinations. As the women realized that LeRoyce was having money problems they began to knit clothing to sell online. Hopefully it would be enough to keep food on their plates. LeRoyce, despite seeming so busy, did not work. When he was home he spent his time holding a special “prayer class” for the girls or showing them videos of disturbing things like the Waco standoff.

From the cellar Evangeline and Farrah could hear the vile things he was teaching them. He claimed that each girl was put on this earth to worship him. There was little mention of a Prophet anymore, it was clear LeRoyce had seized power. He preached that no age was too young to marry, that the outside world was evil and if anyone dared stray, she would be killed in atonement. They were never to second guess or defy him. He also referred to the girls collectively as "my ladies" a term usually reserved for spouses. Just hearing him speak those words sent a shiver down Farrah’s spine. 

"We have got to get them out of here." Breathed Evangeline. Farrah was shocked. She'd never imagined Vangie of all people having thoughts like that. "He's going to marry them if we don't do something." Farrah nodded. She was playing by the rules for now, but looking for an opportunity to take her girls and run, seemed like Vangie was too. The girls themselves were aware of the danger they were in. They stuck as close to their mothers as possible. The oldest girls would accompany the younger ones everywhere, even to the bathroom, lest anyone be caught alone. Vangie, Farrah and the teens slept closest to the ladder at night. And the adults traded off keeping watch at night. 

Even the true believers were doubting LeRoyce's leadership. Hope still prayed and fasted often but Farrah noticed that she begged for deliverance for the Prophet and for things to go back to the way it was before. Emma was sullen and quiet. She'd bonded with her daughter-in-laws but clearly missed her own girls. Lee and Roy's wives were both expecting now and wanted to share this exciting time with their own families. They were also tired of sleeping in tents outside. The boys were obsessed with their brides and were inclined to listen to them.

It made total sense then, when early one morning Lee and Roy quietly loaded up their van with their meager possessions. Emma met with her remaining daughter, Joyful at the top of the ladder and they all made their way to the van together. They had to get away before sunrise. It would be easier to get lost in the dark. They sped away, successfully. By the time LeRoyce awoke, they were long gone. 

He was livid. He tore into Farrah and Evangeline, the two remaining wives. "Where are they? What did they tell you?" He screamed. The girls told him over and over that they didn't know and no one had talked to them about it. LeRoyce banned them from using any furniture or plumbing. He made them spend hours upon hours on their knees, praying for forgiveness. He grew more frantic as the pressures piled up.

Autumn’s first few weeks in the city were slightly overwhelming. She started her gallery job and worked to create new, inspired paintings that would wow her bosses and dazzle the collectors. it wasn’t hard to find beauty in the vibrant, beating heart of San Myshuno. The view from Penny’s balcony was enchanting, calling to mind a sea of concrete and glass. Nichole and Andrew’s home offered the bright hues and eclectic style of the Spice Market. She used her first paycheque to update her wardrobe, she needed a more polished, sophisticated look to really be taken seriously here, or at least that’s what her boss told her.

The gang often wound the nights down with karaoke at the local bar. Penny and Autumn were a formidable duo. Autumn was curious about drinking culture and looking to experiment but her aunt always made sure to keep her safe. Penny was a great chaperone, striking the perfect balance between letting her young niece have fun but also knowing when to cut her off and take her home. 

One unexpected thing about the city was the attention Autumn was attracting. Every night at the bar men would flock to her, offering to buy her drinks. Some were much older, sporting business suits and salt and pepper hair. Penny was fast to swoop in when that type came around. Having spent some of her teen years in the FCSU Autumn had no intention of dating, sure, some men or boys were cute but Autumn could just not shake off her Priesthood teachings. She had once liked a boy in high but Abby scared him away with her fire, brimstone and prairie dresses. 

“How did you start dating?” She asked Penny one day. “How did you move passed your purity lessons?” “Do not do what I did.” Said Penny before recounting the tale of her wayward youth. “When someone seems interesting, meet up in public, get to know them and go from there. If something feels wrong, it probably is.” This advice just confused her further but she nodded along, pretending to understand. 

Autumn carried these confused feelings to the gallery with her every day. Her boss, Mr. Frost, would praise her talent and bring her to parties to teach her how to “network” but his ulterior motives soon came to  the forefront. One night after a gallery show they were having animated discussion about impressionist techniques and as their conversation rose to a fever pitch he pulled her in and kissed her. “Whoa!” She exclaimed. “What was that?” “Artists are passionate people.” He said, straightening his suit. 

Autumn couldn’t explain why but she liked the attention she got from Mr. Frost. He was helping her further her career. He had it all figured out and was letting her into his secret world of artists and patrons. She felt special for the first time in her life. At his urging, she decided to keep this part of her life a secret from her aunt and uncle. Weeks wore on, summer became fall became winter. Autumn celebrated the holidays with Greyson and Penny. 

Penny gave Autumn some of her guitars for Winterfest and taught her to play. Penny rarely had time for music these days. Autumn had never felt so cool.

Autumn’s relationship was progressing too though she kept it a secret. At the holiday staff party at work the crowd had dwindled until it was just Autumn and her boss. They’d been enjoying wine at the bar all night but Autumn was still in sound mind when Mr. Frost approached her and once again began kissing her. the two stumbled before half falling/half sneaking into the lobby’s photobooth.

Things carried on into the new year. Autumn was chipper, inspired and enamored with her new life. At work she felt like her secret relationship was a sly joke between herself and her boss. She went out of her way to tease him in public, knowing he couldn’t react. She thought she was being sneaky until another coworker pulled her aside one day. “You really think you’re special, don’t you?” He sneered. “You think you’re the first girl he’s pulled this on? No, sweetie. He’s a creep, everyone knows that. You don’t want to be his little pet. You’ll be in for a world of pain once he decides he’s done with you. Plus, he’s married.” He turned away. Autumn couldn’t help but notice the rest of her coworkers pulling away. They started calling her “Daddy Issues” behind her back. 

Autumn finally came clean to her aunt when Penny found her crying after work one day. “Oh my god, dude.” She said hugging her niece. “You have to end it. Don’t wait for him to do it.” Autumn nodded through her tears. Once she’d calmed down somewhat Penny giggled “Damn it, your mom got you out of the church so you wouldn’t have sleep with old men.” Autumn was so shocked she broke out in laughter. The two laughed until Autumn started crying again. “Don’t tell mom.” She mumbled into Penny’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I wont.”

Autumn waited until she and Mr. Frost were alone after work to broach the subject. “I heard you have a wife.” She said. “That’s true but she understands the nature of this industry.” He said shortly. “I can’t be with a married man. I’m sorry but this has to end.” He hung his head. “If that’s how you feel.” He left the room. Penny had told Autumn not to show emotion while breaking up. “Act like he meant nothing to you, that gives you some of your power back.” She’d advised. “You can cry later when you come home, but please hold it together when you talk to him.”

One day while Becca-Dawn was at the cafe to train Alex and a now teenaged Austin she was approached by her eldest sister. "Hey Beck, I'd like to start...I mean I've been thinking about...can you please train me too?" She stammered. The stress of leaving the cult combined with managing her restaurant had caused her to gain some weight. "Oh, sure. Come with us to the gym!" She said enthusiastically.

Allie-Jayne was not looking to become a "beanpole" she'd always liked her body, it created and nourished her seven children. Though conventional beauty in the FCSU was marked by a svelte figure the only family to really accomplish this was the Cultons with through near starvation. Elden "allowed" his wives' bodies to change as they aged and bore children. Back in the old days AJ had felt grateful for this bare minimum of human decency.

AJ loved Becca-Dawn's training program, she tailored it for each of clients' needs based on their goals. While the boys required little prodding, they liked to train for cardio for their football matches; for Allie-Jayne she created a more structured program aiming to incorporate exercise into her daily routine. Oftentimes she'd wind down at night watching her tv shows from the exercise machine instead of the couch.

AJ and Becca-Dawn also began hanging out more often outside of the training sessions. As the eldest and youngest, they had probably spent the least amount of time together as children. AJ was shocked to hear that Becca hardly remembered her real father, Allen. The more Becca-Dawn told her about life in the Culton home, the more incredulous AJ became that she'd ever bought into such a sham of a religion.

AJ also began joining Teresa on her long dog walks. The two both loved the outdoors and would stop to admire the scenery. Teresa and her family were doing well. Hannah had become a teen and having grown up around animals, was vocal about wanting to become a vet. This made Teresa and her partner (now called Bethany) so proud. Animals had saved their little family and now she'd go on to save them.

Autumn was now close to graduating and her future plans were causing tension with her mother. AJ wanted her daughter to follow in Andrew's footsteps and attend university but Autumn was hesitant. Her art had been getting noticed lately and she'd managed to make a handful of big sales to rich collectors. A small, independent gallery in San Myshuno had offered her a spot to showcase her work and she wanted to take the opportunity.

Every conversation seemed to go the same way. AJ would tell Autumn that she could study art in university, Autumn would counter that university would always be there but the gallery was a time sensitive endeavor. They would go back and forth, both refusing to budge an inch until one of the other children would loudly change the subject.

There was much to talk about these days as Andrew and Nichole's wedding was coming up shortly. They'd settled on an intimate ceremony with only immediate family present. They said their "I do's" just as Spring turned to Summer in a park in the city. AJ and Teresa watched proudly as their boy married a partner of his own choice. Nichole was the perfect match for Andrew with her funky style, confident and feisty personality and a career to match his.

While the family was present for the wedding Andrew, Nichole and Penny showed AJ and Autumn around the city. Finally after much coaxing from the bride and groom, AJ agreed to let Autumn move to the city after graduation- so long as she lived with Penny and kept out of trouble. Autumn was elated and began to ready her things for her impending move. Just a few short months left.

She graduated that June with honors, cooked one last big feast for the household, then tearfully bid her mother and siblings farewell before driving out to San Myshuno for her new life and her first big job! Penny welcomed her niece warmly and set her up in Becca's old room.